WITCHES AHEAD BY SIX

JASON Doyle raced to a paid maximum as Ipswich overcame a stubborn Leicester challenge to win 48-42 in the first leg of their KO Cup tie.

Doyle twice combined with Emil Sayfutdinov for 5-1s in Heats 13 and 15 after the Lions had gone into the closing stages with a two-point advantage.

Sayfutdinov was unbeaten in four of his five rides on his home debut but was unable to pass the team-riding duo of Max Fricke and Justin Sedgmen who scored a 5-1 for Leicester in Heat 11.

Doyle (14+1), Sayfutdinov (12+1) and Danny King (10) were all in double figures for the hosts, whilst Fricke top-scored for a solid Lions side on 9+1.

Ipswich manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “In a Knockout Cup tie, you would obviously like to get more than a six-point lead from your home leg, but it was opening night against a strong team, and we had three debutants around Ipswich, so I’m happy we got the win because I thought we were in a position that could have ended in defeat.

“A couple of points picked up in certain rides by the less experienced riders made the difference.

“Emil looked like he had been riding this place for ten years week in, week out. He has ridden this track twice and looked like a track expert, he was so quick. He is brilliant to have in the pits and what an addition to the team.”

Leicester boss Stewart Dickson said: “If I was to be ultra-critical, it should have been closer than six points, but for the first night the boys did well and there are still one or two to get up to speed.

“The two big heats, 13 and 15, caused the damage but we should have been in more of a lead than two points going into Heat 13, and Heat 14 was unfortunate as well.

“If you’d said before the meeting that we’d score 42 points I would have taken it, but I’ve come away slightly disappointed that we never got 44 or 45, because it was there for us if we’d been a bit shrewder on-track, but that will come in time.”

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Photo credit: JEFF HIGGOTT